Visions Splendid

Here is a meditation that was recited by my mum's uncle, Major John Cross (Rtd), during his visit to Australia in the 1980s. I remember dictating the words as a teenager and being blessed by his dramatic retelling of this personal testimony in his broad Scottish accent.

You say you have read your Bible from Genesis right the way through.
Then you’ll quite understand the pictures I’m going to paint for you.
Six scenes are here presented, which speak of Love Divine,
And in each the central figure is personal Friend of mine.
JESUS ~ MY LORD

The first scene is a stable with cattle lying around.
Bare rafters low above them and straw upon the ground.
I saw a wooden manger and there was laid one night
A God-sent little stranger who came to give us light.
JESUS ~ THE SAVIOUR

And now I see one leaning against a workshop door.
A carpenter, his tools I see, and shavings upon the floor.
He looks both sad and weary, the toil has been hard today.
And now that his workers leave him, He reverently kneels to pray.
JESUS ~ THE WORKER

A crowd collect around Him ~ the blind, the halt, the lame,
They gathered in the hope of being made fit and well again.
And now I see the worker, a carpenter no more,
Healing them all with His words or touch on the banks of the Jordan shore.
JESUS ~ THE HEALER

Behold, I see a prison, the flash of soldiers’ spears,
And Jesus, my Redeemer, is greeted now with jeers.
But, never a word of anguish does He answer to their cries:
“Away with this impostor! Crucify Him, let Him die!”
JESUS ~ THE PRISONER

And so they hanged my Saviour upon a cruel tree.
In agony He suffered for love of you and me.
The earth was dark with sorrow; I bowed my head in shame.
It seemed a bright tomorrow would never dawn again.
JESUS ~ THE CRUCIFIED

But, He rose; you know the story how the stone was rolled away
And how in all His glory He is coming back one day.
And, softly, through the stillness there come His words to you:
“All this I did for you, my child, for me what wilt thou do?”
JESUS ~ THE RISEN ONE

O weary, helpless, wandering soul who knoweth not my Lord.
Come now to Him, rely on Him and trust upon His Word.
He’ll ease your care, your burdens share, o listen to His call.

And you will prove this joyful news that Christ is all in all.

Claiming Victory

What do you do when worries, concerns and fears take hold of you? Do you ride the emotional rollercoaster? Ignore the issues perhaps? One of our congregation told us today that she tells the Devil to go back to hell and asks Christ to come in with His perfect peace!

Faith in Christ strengthens us to claim the victory in all circumstances and experiences of life.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG) ~ "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track."

Act on this advice sooner rather than later. You'll be pleasantly surprised at just what God has in store for you.

Book Of Salvationist Prayers

While surfing the IHQ website today, I sourced the following prayer from "A Little Book Of Salvationist Prayers" that reflects my thoughts from yesterday's post.

Dear Lord,
Help me not to be so caught up in religious activity that I am sadly unaware of the needs of others. Help me not to be so engrossed in helping others that I fail to keep company with you. Keep me separate in nature, but involved in love, so that I may be like Jesus.

June 26, Daily Prayers

Not sure who wrote it or how to obtain a reference copy, but I'm interested to keep researching. If you know, be sure to let me know.

Sensitivity

Some lessons in life are taught to us by the most unusual of circumstances. Having recently been laid low by the gastro/flu, we noticed the immense sensitivity of our intelligent guide dog, Zarena. Here's the scenario ~ in the early stages, while my unaffected spouse was lovingly caring for me, Zarena was staying close to my bedside providing her 'loving' support. Then, when my wife succumbed to it, not knowing whose side to stay by, Zarena jumped up and laid down inbetween us.

It was a clear reminder to us that, as Zarena was sensitive to our need, so we need to be constantly aware of our sensitivity to the needs of others. It's quite easy, and often convenient sometimes, in this day and age to notice a need but not follow through on it for whatever reason.

At times like these, we need to pray the words of Albert E Mingay (SASB 209).

Come, Holy Spirit, thy guidance we crave;

Speak out thy will we pray;

We would be sensitive to thy control;

Speak to our hearts today.

Galatians 5:25 (NLT) ~ "Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives."

The Angel Of Amsterdam

The Netherlands Territory recently farwelled 94 year old Lieut-Colonel Alida Bosshardt (known as 'Major Bosshardt') to her heavenly reward. A well-known Christian social activist and Salvation Army officer, Alida Bosshardt ministered for over 50 years in Amsterdam's famed Red Light District, where she established a Goodwill centre that eventually became a place where a wide range of troubled people came for shelter and social services: prostitutes and their children, the homeless and drug addicts.

As I read reports of her Promotion to Glory, I was encouraged by the legacy she left behind not only for the Army as a Christian organization, but on her own nation and for the Lord she faithfully loved and served.

Here's some challenging and noteworthy remarks that others have made about her life and ministry.

The Mayor of Amsterdam ~ publicly called her 'The Angel of Amsterdam'

Commissioner Wim van der Harst ~ saluted 'this true and faithful soldier of God, whose weapon was the love of Christ and armour was her Salvation Army uniform'

Commissioner Reinder Schurink ~ testified that 'she followed in Jesus' footsteps'

General Shaw Clifton ~ in a tribute honoured her 'deep devotion to the cause of Christ, selflessness in serving others, example of Christlikeness, and the wonderful inspiration of her discipleship'

Sydney Morning Herald headline ~ 'She worked for the salvation of others'

Of herself, Alida Bosshardt said: "To serve God is to serve people and to serve people is to serve God'; I'm in God's service to serve people. All honour goes to Him, not me."

General Clifton concluded his tribute with this pertinent challenge: "Where are those who will now step forward, inspired by her example, to continue the sacred work for which she was renowned? The world is waiting for you!"

The Mathematics Of Grace

Let me set it straight from the very beginning, God doesn't operate in the realm of predictable and convenient formulas. As I was sharing on the topic of God's grace in our one of our weekday church services this morning, God gave me an inspired thought on the mathematics of His grace.
While singing Annie Johnson Flint's hymn, He giveth more grace, that I've sung on numerous occasions in the course of my aged care chaplaincy ministry, my thoughts were focussed on the last two lines of verse 1.

To added afflictions, he addeth his mercy,

To multiplied trials, He multiplies peace.

My primary prepared message was based on Paul's words from Romans 5, "God's grace...overflows to the many" (v15). Sounds to me like a boundless provision freely available to all and not limited to any formula. So why the mathematics of grace? He addeth his mercy and multiplies peace.

Praise God, there is no mention of subtraction or division, only addition and multiplication. The real truth is that when we trust God implicitly, we are never short-changed or cheated ~ only abundantly blessed!

Romans 5:15b (NIV) ~ "...God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!"

Mountaintop Moments

For anyone who loves God, there can be no higher ambition than a face to face conversation with Him. This was Moses' experience during one of his mountaintop moments. Desiring a little more personal certainty, Moses pleads with God, "Now, show me your glory". As a result God compromises with Moses and agrees to let His goodness pass before him, proclaim his name with his own voice, but prevent Moses from seeing His face. Instead God will let him see his back.

In reflecting on this awesome account, I realize that "seeing God's back" doesn't mean that God is turning his back on his people, but rather it is another assurance of His promised presence. He is there with Moses ~ listening and responding to him as friend to friend. We also know for sure that it means that God is moving ahead of the people ~ leading them. That’s something Moses needed to know. And it is something we need to know too. We need these two things in our weapon store for living. We need to know that God is there, listening and responding ~ to be assured that God is out there in charge, leading the way.

But wait, there's more... another powerful truth this odd and haunting story of seeing God’s back tells us is that we sometimes see where God has been by looking back. Not by seeing God’s face, but by seeing where He has been ~ where the glory of God has passed by.

We pray sincerely the words of chorus 98:

Show us thy glory, Christ of the mount. Thou art of light and wisdom the fount. We would adore thee, make known thy power. Stay with thy people, hallow this hour.

Exodus 33:22-23 (NKJV) ~ "So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen."